Educated Farms
Educated Farms
Santiago Romero
Being a farmer is a very important process that some people find to be different than what they expected. In Mx. Baird-Wolfe’s AP Environmental Science class, you can learn all about nutrients, techniques, and more. There are tons of real-world things you learn, just by adding it as a class for next year! 
Step one to being a farmer in Mx. Baird-Wolfe’s class is to pick 5 crops to grow on your farm. You get a paper of the rectangular space inside a large area of land for you and your partner to plan out. You can rearrange the farm however you want.
Step two in this process is to remember that plants need nutrients. It is important to focus on how you are going to make sure that is provided with the type of crops you chose and the soil you are assigned. If your crops are too difficult to get nutrients, you may have to succumb to fertilizer or crop rotation. This can allow for necessary nutrients to grow the crops better.
Step three is doing even more research; like learning more about GMOs, arrangements of crops, or even pesticides to get rid of pests that harm the crops. You will learn how growing organic crops can be better than GMO crops in many ways. Some knowledge will even share how crops need to be arranged a certain way to keep more water for the crops that need them. All of this is important because things that may seem better-like pesticides-might be less effective than just using a scarecrow for crows or predator/prey relationships to manage those pests, and pose a danger to people who may accidentally consume/inhale pesticide-sprayed crops.
The last and final step to this farm making in class is that not only did you have help and drew (If you like drawing) the outline of your farm; you also learned how to manage it for yourself. In the end, you are challenged to accept the assignment of a new buyer for your farm’s crops, but they don’t want what you have. You’ll start realizing that it can be difficult to get what you need now. You’ll have to trade with fellow farmers to get the crops you want AND the crops THEY want. Mx. Baird-Wolfe says, “It is supposed to challenge you now that you have all the knowledge you learned.” The best you can do is enjoy this project. It’s fun and simple if you truly pay attention and take notes. Here’s some advice: sometimes it’s good to try even if it seems tough. You’ll make friends and it is important to take a class that challenges you but also is entertaining.